Argh! I want to punch my bosses in the nose! They make it so hard to get through the days without mowing down a pizza and a tub of ice-cream for breakfast just to start the day with them!
What do you guys do when the stress just gets so terrible that Ho-Hos sound like a great answer? I've been so run down lately that chips and pop and sugary snackie food just seems so easy, you know? And I know that thinking about the "goal me" should be enough to kick my butt into gear but I just wish I could get more energy going.
What do you guys do when the going gets tuff' and tuff' don't seem to get going? I just wish I could make myself stick to the plan. But when i'm sitting in classes that run 2:30 straight to 4:20 its so damn easy to walk to the vending machine. And the whole way there I say 'Don't do it, not worth it!' and then I do it anyway. I know its all me, and I should just suck it up and drink water or bring carrots or something but carrots don't come out of a machine..been damn easy if they did.
Anyway, just venting. Any words of advice would be much appreciated!
-Usagi

I exercise when I am stressed and I bring lots of veggies to dip in my hummus. I also try to make sure I don't have change for the vending machine. I make a point of not walking by it as much as possible too.

When you're eating because of frustration or stress you need to make sure you have something you can eat as much as you want of, e.g. raw veggies. You shouldn't have to think about portion control when you're upset. I eat when I'm angry and it really helps me, as insane as it sounds, to gnaw on something crunchy--celery sticks, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips. You can even take out some of your stress chopping the veggies the night before! Pack them in a tupperware with a little salt and/or fennel seed and/or other no-cal, non-messy seasonings.

If you hear the siren call of the vending machine, how about getting a Diet Coke when you get there? Aspartame is bad for you, I know, but something about that hit of cold sweet fizzy drink really satisfies me when I want a junk food treat, and it's certainly better for you than regular Coke. Or, take along whatever no-cal beverage is a treat for you--Perrier, or diet Snapple? I think it's key to treat & pamper yourself in healthy ways, to avoid "treating" yourself in self-sabotaging ways.

In my case, I love sparkling water, so I buy tons of it and drink it all the time, even though it's obviously more expensive than tap water, because it feels like a treat, and thus I know I will really drink it, rather than letting myself get too thirsty and then eating something off-limits because it's there.

Good luck!!

Usagi--

I've had a few stressful weeks of my own at my work lately, too, and the best thing I've been able to do for it is have a glass of red wine when I get home. It helps to loosen me up a little, drain the tension from my muscles, and it's still OP. I'm sure it would be better to wait to have my wine with dinner, but at those times when I just wanna scream, it works better for me than anything else.

Also, cleaning is a good stress reliever for me. I do some of my best cleaning when I'm good and mad.

Do you have any big, involved projects to work on right now? Get knee deep in them. When I get really involved in a project at home or at work, it helps to get my mind off of what's bugging me.

Have you ever had anyone tell you to just stay away from stress? OH GOOD GREIF! I asked someone the same question you are asking a few days ago, and that's what she said. Hellooo, not all of us in the real world have a job or a life that allows us to call in sick, so we can hide under the covers all day. Not all of us can call Mommy for a bowl of nice warm soup!
Her words made me want to puke, and after I thought that, I also wanted to shove her words down her scrawny neck. How's that for stress, you freak!
Ok, that's a little melodramatic, but, really getting in to this site helps take off some of my edge sometimes. I like the suggestion of don't keep any change around. Sometimes it helps if you can find a "b!t@h!n' buddy", I'm not sure how complaining helps, but sometimes I feel better after a good session with a pal.
You can do it, Usagi, you just have to find something that will work for you. Happy hunting.

Stress eating...hmmmm.....sf/ff chocolate pudding. SF/FF latte.....drink lots of water and take a break. Read a book. Space out. Don't think about food, think about how suave Fabio looks on the edge of your oversized overstuffed bed of clouds......

Good luck.